Archive for the ‘Orioles’ Category

Standing in the press box at Yankee Stadium Thursday night in the 8th inning, I just knew the series was over. Two men on, nobody out in a tie game where the Orioles couldn’t buy a hit didn’t seem much like a recipe for success.

I was thinking how disappointing it was for fans to have come so close, to know the O’s should have won game three and again missed opportunities in game four. Truth be told, some of the disappointment was my own. I’ve made no secret of growing up an Orioles fan and how that forged my path in this business. So, I’m thinking, “Here they go again. The Birds just are not quite ready to handle the Bronx on the biggest stage.”

I was also contemplating the emotional investment Orioles fans have made in this team and how much harder it is when you give yourself over to a cause, dying inside hoping for its success. Coming off an AFC title game gut punch for Baltimore (not even close in relative terms ALDS vs. missed trip to Super Bowl, but emotionally, not much different), to have to suffer through back-to-back heartbreakers against the Yankees just seemed an awful lot for this fan base to bear.

And then Brian Matusz, one day after giving up the game-winning HR, got a ground ball out. Enter Darren O’Day. Already overused, the side-armed righty, whom, according to Jim Johnson, tosses softballs, got out of it. He baffled the best of the Yankees lineup to escape, then did it for two more innings. Next up, Pedro Strop. He hadn’t pitched since October 3rd, having fallen out of favor. Strop dominated the Yanks for two more innings.

Manny Machado led off the 13th with a double, and two batters later, J.J. Hardy finally represented the Orioles bats with a clutch hit.

At last, Jim Johnson earned redemption for game three, mowing down New York’s 3-4-5 hitters 1-2-3.

They did it.

All day long they had to hear about the Yankee mystique, and how the playoffs here are too big for the Birds. But Baltimore was the one to rise up and stave off elimination, giving its fans who had invested so much one more magical moment in a season full of impossible dreams. It’s why the investment is worth it because the reward of a shared cause success delivers euphoria.

Now, it’s a game five, essentially the same situation they faced a week ago in Arlington, Texas. We knew in that game all the pressure was on the expensive, All-Star riddled lineup of the Rangers. Ultimately though, the pressure proved too much for Texas and the Orioles celebrated in champagne. The pressure tonight relies solely on the Yankees. They expect nothing less than a World Series crown. To lose a game five, at home, to the inexplicable O’s goes way past unacceptable in Gotham. Here’s to one more night of shared investment for Baltimore.

The last time the Orioles had travel problems they dropped two of three on the road. If they do that again this time, their season ends.

I’m guessing though, that since the Yankees also got stuck on a train and missed a night’s sleep that has to cancel out any negative effects.

The best thing going for the Birds tonight is having Miguel Gonzalez on the mound. He has thus far proven immune to the anxieties of pitching in the Bronx going 2-0 in his two starts here this year. The last time out in fact, he dominated with seven shut out innings. He told me he wanted to pitch in New York again, that he feeds off the atmosphere.

But before we get too hooked on the fact that he’s done well here, it would serve us to remember that if we are to expect future performance based on the past the Orioles would not have won 95 games so far, or 85, or maybe even 75.

Not living in the past or worrying about the future has been a credo for Buck Showalter this season. And despite the magnitude of this moment, they still know it’s all gravy from here on out.

Injuries, inexperience, (was going to add less talent, but I think we can almost put that to bed) have all been ignored to reach this point so the pressure resides squarely in the 3rd base dugout.

Joe Girardi will once again bat Alex Rodriguez 3rd in the lineup even though he no longer is best suited for the role. The indignity of losing a 4th series in New York to the upstart Orioles would not only demoralize, but surely cost plenty in pinstripes their jobs.

So, the Orioles will take the field loose, confident, and believing there’s is a special season ready to continue. Can’t wait to watch.

I leave you with a the practice unfurling of the flag, what a sight here in the Bronx.

Without question, that place was the Orioles clubhouse following their 5-1 Wild Card victory in Texas. I have never seen a group of people that full of joy. Nick Markakis smiled for minutes at a time. Remember, Markakis is the surly star who wears a shirt pre-game that reads: Do I look like a *$&^$*@ people person?

Buck Showalter smiled too. The serious taskmaster let down his guard, never tried to fix his hair after a six champagne bottle dousing, and relished the victory.

Meanwhile, Joe Saunders beamed at knowing he made so many second guessers apologize. I told him that during the 6th inning, Twitter had blown up with the likes of, ‘Wow, was I wrong about Saunders.” He replied, “I appreciate that. I know my record sucked in this ballpark…. but I’ve had some success here too. I’m just glad to bring playoff baseball back to Baltimore.”

Miguel Gonzalez, with whom for some delightful reason has started to share a bond, came up and hugged me, then told me this was the best day of his life.

Adam Jones and Tommy Hunter shared the award for most exuberant. Their collective efforts to ensure nobody left that clubhouse without wrinkled digits will never be forgotten.

And there was Brian Roberts too. He who suffered through so much bad baseball, only to now miss out on the good times took part. He earned it through years of wallowing as the face of a downtrodden franchise.

But I think the biggest moment may have been when the players surrounded Dan Duqette, screaming and singing, as they bathed him in booze. He gave so many a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd chance to stick in the bigs and they showed their appreciation to the point I’m not sure he could breathe.

As someone who grew up watching the Orioles glory years, then watching them waste away, to be thrust into the middle of the best franchise moment since 1983 was an honor and privilege that continues to give me goose bumps. I apologize the pictures aren’t the clearest, but even through the blurs, I believe the true measure of the moment is shared.

The Orioles went to St. Petersburg with three possibilities regarding their playoff future. Host a game Thursday for the A.L. East crown, host a wild card game Friday, or hit the road for the wild card.

The worst case scenario won out, and it’s a shame for Orioles fans.

They missed out on their chance to celebrate with the team for making the playoffs. They finished the season on the road — and now could end their season away from Camden Yards.

Compare that to the good fortune of Oakland which celebrated twice with its fans. First they went crazy when locking up a post season spot, then again Wednesday when they clinched the A.L. West.

But as long as they have a game on the schedule, hope remains, and the fact it’s a one-game playoff works to their advantage.

Texas has lost seven out of nine games, throwing their five game lead in the toilet over the span of a week. They aren’t exactly rippling with confidence. And despite the Orioles history in Arlington, moments of misery that include a 30-3 loss in 2007, and a bludgeoning this year that saw them give up 9 runs in one inning, one game works to their favor.

They will face a rookie pitcher, albeit a talented one, in Yu Darvish. But after watching some of the best pitching they faced all season, Darvish might look like Triple A. Chris Davis laid out that thought last night to me, and did so with a grin on his face. With his six game HR streak coming to an end on Wednesday, I asked if he was ready to start a new one. “Yep”, was the simple answer.

The flight to Tampa Monday morning began with the flight attendant on the microphone starting off her safety speech with ‘How ’bout them O’s’. As we hit the shuttle to baggage claim, I saw the Wild Bill Hagy tee shirt and almost started and O-R-I-O-L-E-S chant right there.

While waiting to do live shots for 11 News at 5&6, orange-clad fans stopped by to say hi.
Compared to the fan support for the Rays, which still have a shot at the post season, it’s laughable.

Now, I’m not forgetting that as recently as August, Oriole Park at times suffered puzzingly low attendance. But 15 years of losing took some time to overcome for Baltimore fans. When they recognized the O’s commitment to winning this season, they represented well.

The game didn’t go well for the Orioles. Manny Machado finally looked like a 20-year-old rookie, and Baltimore couldn’t get the clutch hit with 2 outs in the 9th.

Tonight the O’s face a Rays team that no longer has anything for which to play and have to win to keep their hopes of a home playoff game (or even a division title.)

I’ll have live coverage at 5, 6, & 11 on WBAL TV, will join WBAL Radio at 5:35, and even join NBC Sports Network at 6:00 all in preps for the Birds biggest game of the year. So please, stop on by!

How can that be you wonder? The Ravens have won a Super Bowl within the last decade while the Orioles have not even earned a winning season. The Ravens went to the playoffs in 2006. The closest the Orioles have come to the post season was first baseman Kevin Millar introduced his former Red Sox teammates at the 2007 ALCS.

Despite the real and the perceived gaps in the organizations, these two teams have too many similarities to ignore.

In baseball you can’t consistently win without starting pitching. No matter how much talent lies elsewhere that is a proven truth.

In football, you can’t win without a solid offensive line. With the retirement of Jonathan Ogden, the injury to Adam Terry, and the lack of depth that has a pair of should be practice squaders right now manning the tackle positions, this team is in trouble. To many mistakes up front will lead not only to a lack of points but will consistently put the defense in bad positions. This Ravens defense will be great once more, but it was great last year too. And when the o-line repeatedly put the defense in the shadow of its own end zone, greatness finally gave.

I’m not sure how the front office for the Ravens, which has routinely proven itself as one of the better staffs in football, allowed for such little depth and experience, but it’s very hard to imagine this team overcoming the injuries and the inexperience while at the same time learning a new system with every starter from 2007 playing a new position in 2008.

There is however another comparison to the Orioles, one that’s more favorable. The Birds finally seem headed in the right direction. Peter Angelos is allowing a good baseball man in Andy MacPhail to make decisions based solely on what’s best for the future. That is wholly new.

The Ravens also made change at the top and will allow time to see the fruits of those changes. Better yet for the Ravens, the time frame for change in football is far smaller than in baseball. You don’t have to take years to build up a farm system. With the salary cap leveling the field, you just need one or two good drafts and to hit the free agent pool.